JOHN CARVER has told Leon Best he has the “opportunity of a lifetime” to make himself a hero with Newcastle United.

The Toon assistant manager has also revealed that he tried his best to get the Republic of Ireland international to leave United during his stint as No 2 at Sheffield United back in November.

Back then 24-year-old Best had just returned from ankle ligament damage and made his comeback in the reserves against Manchester City with Carver watching as Blades coach from the sidelines.

But the Nottingham lad had Andy Carroll in front of him along with Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger.

So much has changed in a short space of time for Best, with the ex-Coventry man now a first-team regular and having an impeccable record of five goals in seven games, with his Premier League tally now as good as Wayne Rooney.

Carver says that Best’s destiny is now in “his own hands” and the player has an incredible chance to become a Toon superstar.

Highly-rated coach Carver is the first to ensure players keep their feet on the ground but, after Best’s recent run of form, he told the Chronicle: “He hasn’t got a Shearer or Cole record at the moment, but he’s made a great start to Premier League life with five in seven at Newcastle and at this club.

“It’s a starting point that can be built on and, if we keep creating the chances and he keeps taking them, it’s going to be great for him.

“He’s 24, and what a great age to be.”

He added: “I was banging on Chris Hughton’s door to get Besty on loan this season because I rate him so highly.

“He didn’t want to come to Sheff United because he felt he’d been on loan already in his career and wanted to knuckle down and carve out a career.

“It couldn’t have worked out better because now I’m working with him day-in day-out.”

Carver knows that Best has proved a few of his doubters wrong after an indifferent start to life at St James’ Park, with the player finding it tough to break up the Lovenkrands-Carroll partnership that fired the Mags to promotion.

But Carver gave an insight on the player’s attitude to life.

He said: “He’s very much his own man and doesn’t take much notice of what’s in the papers or what people will say – he’s very, very strong like that.

“He’s focused on his own game and he’s got a fresh start.

“He’s got a big opportunity for a young player and it’s a case of how far he takes it.”

Both Best and Lovenkrands were on target at Birmingham as United nudged up to ninth spot.

And Carver feels it is an opportunity for everybody to really stake a claim in the side.

Indeed with £35m in the bank and set to be reinvested back into the team according to Alan Pardew, the current strike force all have a head start to cement their places before any potential new boys come in.

Carver added: “For all the strikers it is a massive opportunity now – especially Leon, Nile and Peter.

“I said to Besty what a big chance this is for him, and he knows that.

“He’s scored again against decent opposition on Tuesday.

“I told him again last night ‘it’s in your hands’ in terms of establishing himself as a mainstay striker at Newcastle.”

Meanwhile, the return of Hatem Ben Arfa has not been delayed, according to United.

The player is still recovering from a double leg break, but no date has ever been set for the French international to make his comeback.

:: DON’T MISS the start of John Carver’s great new weekly column – only in your Chronicle tomorrow.